From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH: Though the State Government boasts of making health care a priority, the situation on the ground is dismal.
This is evident from the Bhoirymbong Community Health Centre (CHC) in Ri Bhoi district which is functioning without any doctor for more than four months despite strident protests from the people.
According to local residents, after the transfer of medical and health officer Dr. (Ms) E Kalwing from the CHC no doctor was posted in the vacant place, which should have been done as per government procedure.
Notably, Dr. Kalwing was transferred out of Bhoirymbong CHC within one month of her posting for reasons best known to the authority concerned.
The CHC caters to more than ten villages in and around Bhoirymbong but due to the non availability of doctors villagers are compelled to go to Nongpoh or Shillong for treatment.
Concerned with the plight and suffering of the people, the Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) Central Body on Wednesday issued a one-week deadline to the government for posting doctors in the CHC failing which they will be compelled to agitate.
Informing this to newspersons RBYF general secretary LK Sawkmie said they had met Deputy Chief Minister in charge Health, Rowell Lyngdoh, last month to discuss the matter and he had assured them that he would do the needful.
But even after the lapse of one month no doctor has been posted, informed Sawkmie, while issuing the deadline as a wake-up call to the government whose primary duty, he said, is to provide better health care facilities to the people especially in rural areas.
